Obama administration staffer to join de Leon's team

Sen. Kevin de León, the incoming leader of the California Senate, Wednesday announced hiring an Obama administration public affairs official as his communications director.

Anthony Reyes, who works on digital strategy for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is scheduled to join de León’s Sacramento-based team on Oct. 13. The Los Angeles Democrat takes over as Senate President Pro Tem on Oct. 15; outgoing leader Sen. Darrell Steinberg is forced to leave the Legislature later this year due to term limits.

Reyes’ experience in Washington, D.C. includes developing social media messages on Wall Street reform, tax policy and domestic and international finance, according to a biography provided by de Leon’s office. Reyes also worked with press during debt-limit negotiations and congressional hearings on the IRS, the bio says.

Before working for the Obama administration, Reyes worked for MSNBC and NBC News. He was born in the Dominican Republic, grew up in New York City and graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. His annual salary in de León’s office will be $149,520 – or almost $40,000 more than de León will make as pro tem.